Climate change mitigation
The aim of Vantaa Energy’s environmental work is to be a responsible and active operator in slowing down climate change. We are reducing greenhouse gas emissions not only in our own energy production, but also in projects we are involved in as part owner.
Vantaa Energy aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels by 2026 and turn energy production carbon negative by 2030.
Our target is to phase out the use of coal in 2022
We are phasing out the use of coal in energy production in 2022. Coal will mainly be replaced by increasing the share of non-recyclable waste in production by expanding our current waste-to-energy plants. During 2021, the construction work of the extension has progressed well, and the largest main equipment has been installed in place. The extended waste-to-energy plant is scheduled for commissioning in autumn 2022.
We will phase out the use of fossil fuels in Vantaa in 2026
We are planning to build a seasonal heat storage facility in the Kuusikonmäki district of Vantaa. The building of the heat storage facility plays a key role in the transition towards a fossil-free Vantaa. It will enable extensive recovery of waste heat and renewable energy sources, such as solar heat and geothermal energy, outside the heating season and the utilisation of heat in the coldest winter periods.
With a size of one million cubic metres, the facility will be the largest heat energy storage facility in the world.
The EIA procedure of the heat storage was launched in 2021. The public notice on the EIA report was issued in January 2022. The investment decision of the project is scheduled to be made during 2022.
In addition, the phasing out of fossil fuels will also be enabled by the high temperature waste treatment plant, which utilises waste that is not suitable for material recycling and which is to be built in connection with the Vantaa waste-to-energy plant, as well as the impregnated wood biopower plant to be built at the Martinlaakso power plant, the waste heat of which will be utilised in heat production. The environmental permit applications for both plants are currently processed by the Regional State Administrative Agency. The investment decisions of the project are scheduled to be made during 2022.
Read more: https://www.vantaanenergia.fi/fossiiliton-2026/lammon-kausivarasto/
95% of the electricity we generate will be carbon neutral in 2026
In 2021, 75 per cent of the electricity we produced was carbon neutral. Climate-neutral energy forms include biofuels, biodegradable part of waste, nuclear power, wind power, and hydro power.
Vantaa Energy aims to steadfastly increase its wind power production. In 2021, we were involved in several of our associated companies’ wind farm projects under construction. The wind farm of EPV Tuulivoima in Teuva, the Polusjärvi wind farm of Suomen Hyötytuuli, and the Alajoki-Peuranlinna wind farm are scheduled to start commercial production in 2022.
The amount of electricity produced by nuclear power will be almost doubled after the commissioning of the Olkiluoto 3 plant of Teollisuuden Voima Oy. Fuel charging at the plant was completed in April and the reactor was started up at low power in December 2021. The preparation for the start of electricity generation is under way.
We will reduce our own energy consumption by about 50 GWh a year in accordance with the energy efficiency agreement and help our customers to monitor their energy consumption and save energy
In 2021, we published three new services for our customers, offering tools for improving the energy efficiency of properties and for convenient construction. Carefree Energy Update and Smart Energy Detective services enable savings in the heating and living costs of properties by improving energy efficiency, and they also reduce the environmental impacts of heating. The Easy Energy Connection service provides heating and cooling for house builders, including the necessary equipment, without intermediaries as a life-cycle service. In 2022, we will provide our customers with even more services that facilitate the use of energy.
The number of new Recycled Heat contracts drawn up in 2021 corresponds to the annual energy of approximately 58 GWh.